Monday, April 30, 2012

Economic Cost of Obesity in America

The following link is a must read article on obesity posted on msnbc.com. The article focuses on the economic impact society endures due to the widening of America's waistline.

 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47211549/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/

Genetics does a play a role in your weight. If "weight heaviness" runs in your family, you are prone to easily put on weight. In which case, it is absolutely essential you choose the right the foods and incorporate exercise in your daily routine. You cannot change genetics but you can change and control what foods, when and the amount you ingest. You cannot medicate your way to an ideal weight nor is there surgery to keep off added weight. It is your lifestyle and your perception of food that needs to change. Obesity is not be taken light heartily. Obesity poses serious health threats and effects everyone.

Make the healthy and smart choice.

Trisha M. Pacenti RN,BSN
www.nurseinsagent.com

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Obesity in Women

Obesity, or too much body fat, is a chronic disease that is a health threat for women at every stage of life. Obesity is linked as a contributing factor to serious health conditions. As the prevalence of obesity has grown significantly, obesity has become the second largest cause of preventable death in the United States, following tobacco. Today's children and young adults are on track to mature into the most obese generation in US history, creating pressure on the health care system to deal with fat related disease.

As much as we like fast food, it will cause weight gain. Salts cause water weight gain giving that bloated feeling. Your body will breakdown the fat using what it needs for cellular energy and growth while the rest will be distributed and stored. American obesity has been linked scientifically to the typical American diet that is high in fats, salt and sugar. Sodas and juices are high sugary and acidic drinks. The acid will weaken and strip away tooth enamel. The sugar is empty calories and will essentially cause hunger and crave more sugar.

As women age, our metabolisms slow, hormone levels fluctuate and energy decreases. Lack of regular exercise and a sedentary lifestyle will cause weight gain. If we don't keep our eating habits in check and make the right food choices, packing on the pounds is easy to do. Having the "I just don't care" "I've always been heavy" "I've tried to lose the weight but can't" way of thought is self-defeating. Don't make the possible seem impossible. The first step in losing weight is to believe you can. Otherwise, the lackadaisical attitude will keep you on the merry-go-round of mood changes and health risk. A positive attitude toward food choices and exercise will help maintain a healthy weight.

Unhealthy diets and obesity will lead to:
















  • Obstetric and Gynecologic Complications
  • Cholecystitis and pancreatitis
  • Sleep apnea
  • Stroke
  • Surgical complications and longer recovery times
  • Type 2 Diabetes (NIDDM)
  • Urinary Stress Incontinence
  • Breast Cancer
  • Low back pain, arthritis
      Obesity increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and complicates management. The presence of obesity exacerbates metabolic abnormalities of diabetes including hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia and dyslipidemia. Obesity also increases insulin resistance and glucose intolerance.

The risk of developing hypertension and cardiovascular disease is increased with the coexistence of obesity and type 2 diabetes increasing morbidity and mortality. Body weights 20-30% above the ideal have mortality rates 2.5 to 3.3 times higher than for those of normal weight with type 2 diabetes!

Given all the scientific evidence and what we know, the percentage of overweight and obese Americans remains at an all time high. Making healthy food choices, incorporating exercise and living an overall healthy lifestyle is wiser and safer than choosing a life with a high risk health threat.

Good Health,
Trisha M. Pacenti RN,BSN
www.nurseinsagent.com

 http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/overwt.htm

www.patientsmedical.com/women/obesity

Sunday, April 1, 2012

What constitutes domestic abuse?

Domestic abuse is more common than you think. Abuse in relationships is at an all time  high. If any of the following pertains to your individual situation or you know someone who is involved in a violent relationship, please seek help with the appropriate authorities. Regardless of where the violence is coming from, a man or a woman, in a marriage or not, there is no room for violence in a relationship.

Making excuses for the perpetrator only prolongs and exacerbates the situation making for a miserable existence and changing outside relationships.

The following are situations you should be asking yourself to learn if you are in a abusive relationship. If you answer yes and can identify to any of the following, you are in a abusive relationship.

Does your partner: smash things, destroy property, make threats, steal, act like a "master", act like everything is OK even while living in a tense atmosphere, make you feel unsafe when asleep, shift responsibility and make it seem like "you must.....or else", control what you do, who you talk to, where you go and demand to know what your talking about, limit your outside involvement with friends, create arguments/confrontations when friends come by to visit, keep you apart from family or friends, basically cutting you off from the outside world and just "allowing you" to work to make money for him or her.

Does your partner: put you down privately or publicly, make you feel bad about yourself, call you names, humiliate you in front of others, use children to make you feel guilty, place demands and have high expectations from you.

Physical abuse and emotional abuse will pull the victim down to the point where they feel they must stay in the relationship because there is nothing else for him or her. They stay in the abusive relationship out of fear or intimidation and convince themselves this is what "love" is about. The confusion the victim lives in day to day takes over the rationale and logical side of thought unable to make clear rational decisions. He or she begins to believe that it is "everyone else" who has the problem and they fail to make the distinction that the problem is coming for their partner. The very same person who claims to "love" him or her.

The victim must remember that their life is important and that a relationship is not based upon lies, threats, confrontation and just plain ugliness. The perpetrator can say a million "sorries" and make it up by trying to work on their issues and make things better. But the bottom line is they have the problem. He or she is suffering from a psychological disorder that must be professionally diagnosed and treated.

If you answered yes to any of the above and you believe you a victim in a abusive relationship, take the appropriate steps to safe guard yourself. Seek help from the authorities, family, friends. Remove yourself from the sickly situation. Work on getting your emotional strength back and regain control of  your life.

Contact the National Domestic Abuse Hotline:

1-800-799-SAFE (7233), or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY) or (206) 787-3224 (Video Phone Only for Deaf Callers).

www.thehotline.org

Good health,
Trisha M. Pacenti, RN,BSN
drugstore.com, inc.